Today, MotorWeek remembers one of the last great Saabs in its vintage review of the 1999 9-3 Viggen. This model was the pinnacle of Saab’s capabilities, with a powerful engine and special aerodynamics package.
“The jet-inspired Viggen was the pinnacle of everything Saab’s engineers could do at the time. Starting with the standard Saab 9-3, the suspension was hunkered down to improve handling and lower bodywork was added for better aerodynamics. Now that the exterior looked the part, the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder was tweaked to make 225 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque. While that output may not sound hugely impressive by modern standards, those were strong numbers in the day, and the following model year made even more power.”
It may be the fastest production Saab… actually built by Saab:
im never sure why people think of a viggen as something so great, a 9-5 aero is better is almost every measurable way. Especially when talking about the 02-03 9-5 aeros. Sadly that much better car was in an understated sedan, rather than a flashy blue hatchback